Fine Gael welcomes retirement age increase for gardaí

FINE GAEL’S justice spokesman John Deasy has welcomed the extension of the minimum Garda retirement age but said there was still a long way to go before the high retirement rate is reversed.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy announced yesterday the extension of the minimum retirement age for new entrant gardaí and prison officers, from 50 to 55. This is in line with extensions across the public service.

Mr Deasy said: “The extension of the retirement age is a step in the right direction. There is a very high retirement rate in the Garda Síochána. The increase in the retirement age is a positive move but there is still a long way to go to reverse this worrying trend.”